With pressure to increase revenue, impending layoffs, and the potential sale of beloved gaming studios, it's no secret that Xbox is in turmoil. How it handles that turmoil remains to be seen. Recent reporting suggests that Microsoft's gaming division will double down on its biggest franchises and aims to releaseElder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 as soon as possible. With Bethesda's track record — and the lengthy development cycles of most big-budget games — that proposal sounds preposterous. There is one way that Xbox could actually pull it off, though.

Two words: Early access.

I know, I know. Publishers charging for games in an unfinished state is a gamble, even in the best of circumstances. While successful for some indie games on PC, early access is not a typical approach for marquee franchises like Fallout or The Elder Scrolls. And with the backing of a company like Microsoft, it might seem gauche for Bethesda to ask for public funding.

Realistically, though, how else could we possibly get a new Elder Scrolls or Fallout game on shelves quickly? There was a time during Xbox's acquisition spree when Microsoft was willing to let its studios cook. This was a period when executives almost seemed unbothered by sales numbers, at least to the public, and embraced smaller, more niche releases.

That time is over. Not only does recent reporting paint a grim picture........

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